Piperazine - information sheet

CAS Registry Number 110-85-0

Publications summarized:

• Final Assessment for Piperazine (published on May 11, 2024).
• Associated notice: Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 158, No. 19 – May 11, 2024

On this page

• Overview
• About this substance
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Consideration of subpopulations who may have greater susceptibility or greater exposure
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Assessment conclusions
• Preventive actions and risk reduction
  • Where to find updates
• Related resources

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducts risk assessments of substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to determine whether they present or may present a risk to human health or to the environment.
• The risks posed by a substance are determined by both its hazardous properties (potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount or extent that people and the environment are exposed.
• When needed, the Government applies risk management instruments under CEPA and other federal acts to help prevent or reduce potential harm.
• The ecological hazard and exposure potentials of piperazine were classified using the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances (ERC) Approach.
• Piperazine is considered to have health effects of concern (reproductive effects); however, at levels of exposure considered in the assessment, the Government concluded that this substance is not harmful to human health or to the environment.

About this substance

• The assessment focused on the substance piperazine, assessed under the third phase of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
• Piperazine does not occur naturally in the environment. According to information gathered by the Government, piperazine is used commercially in Canada in paints and coatings, and in industrial settings (including use in gas scrubbers). It is also used as a medicinal ingredient in some veterinary antiparasitic (de-worming) medication, and in epoxy adhesives. It may be used as a flavouring agent in foods sold in Canada.

Human and ecological exposures

• People in Canada may be exposed to piperazine from environmental sources (for example, air and water), food, and epoxy adhesive products.
• According to the information considered under the ERC Approach, piperazine was identified as having low ecological exposure potential.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• To help inform the health effects characterization in the assessment, international reports on this substance were considered. This included assessments by the European Union Risk Assessment Report (EU RAR) program and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• Piperazine has been classified as a suspected reproductive toxicant internationally under the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Globally Harmonised System (GHS). In addition, the ECHA has also classified piperazine as a respiratory sensitizer. The critical effects identified for characterizing the risk to human health for piperazine were effects on the nervous system, as well as the reproductive system.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, piperazine was identified as having a low ecological hazard potential.

Consideration of subpopulations who may have greater susceptibility or greater exposure

• There are groups of individuals within the Canadian population who, due to greater susceptibility or greater exposure, may be more vulnerable to experiencing adverse health effects from exposure to substances.
• Certain subpopulations are routinely considered throughout the assessment process, such as infants, children, and people of reproductive age. For instance, age-specific exposures are routinely estimated and developmental and reproductive toxicity studies are evaluated for potential adverse health effects. These subpopulations were taken into account in the risk assessment outcomes of the piperazine assessment.
• In addition, people with the potential for elevated exposure who live near potential releases of piperazine from its use in industrial gas scrubbers were considered in the assessment.

Risk assessment outcomes

• Assessments focus on information critical to determining whether substances are harmful to human health or the environment under CEPA. This is done by considering scientific information, including information, if available, on subpopulations who may have greater susceptibility or greater exposure, vulnerable environments and cumulative effects, and by incorporating a weight of evidence approach and precaution.
• Based upon a comparison of levels to which people in Canada may be exposed to piperazine and levels associated with health effects, it was determined that the risk to human health from piperazine is low.
• Based on the outcome of the ERC Approach, piperazine is considered unlikely to be causing ecological harm.

Assessment conclusions

• The Government concluded that piperazine is not harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.
• The Government also concluded that piperazine is not entering the environment at levels that are harmful.

Preventive actions and risk reduction

• Although piperazine is not considered to be harmful to human health at exposure levels considered at the time of the assessment, this substance is considered to have a health effect of concern due to its reproductive toxicity. There may be a concern if exposures were to increase.
• The Government published a notice of intent to apply Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of CEPA to piperazine. This publication has a 60-day public comment period ending on July 10, 2024.
• The SNAc provisions would require that the Government be notified of certain proposed new activities related to piperazine, and that the new activity be assessed for potential risks to human health and the environment before being undertaken.
• The notice outlines the proposed definition of a significant new activity in relation to piperazine, as well as the information that needs to be provided to the Government for assessment before the new activity is undertaken.

Where to find updates

• The timeline for piperazine is updated to reflect new or changed activities.
• Information about SNAc provisions applied to substances, including new notices and orders and those already published, can be found in the SNAc publications dataset.
• Additional information on the risk management of substances addressed under the CMP is available.
• Use the Substances Search tool to find substances that are referenced in certain legislative or regulatory instruments or on Government of Canada websites.

Related resources

• Piperazine may be found in products available to consumers. People in Canada should follow any safety warnings and directions related to the product and dispose of products responsibly.
• Visit Healthy Home for information on chemical safety in and around the home.
• Assessments conducted under CEPA focus on risks of exposure of the general population. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). If a substance is harmful to the general population, it could also be of concern for individuals in situations where a higher volume of the substance is used or where the substance is used for a longer duration (for example, the workplace). The Government of Canada recognizes that it is the responsibility of the federal, provincial and territorial occupational health and safety organizations to coordinate legislation for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. We are working to support this role by integrating the information, tools, and technical expertise of the CMP and Health Canada's Workplace Hazardous Products Program.